Top 10 Most Inspirational Footballer Stories

Success doesn't come easy, few of us know how hard times these football stars have been through and how much they've done for the people who show them love.

That's why they deserve our respect and the cheer from thousands fans in the stadiums.

10. Alexis Sanchez – Arsenal

Sanchez worked from the age of six to helped feed his family. He’s now on £160k-per-week!

9. Didier Drogba – Chelsea

The Ivorian legend has donated well over £3m to African charities, and helped build a hospital in his home town as well.

8. Steven Naismith – Everton

The Scot recently bought a load of tickets for an Everton match and handed them out to local unemployed supporters.

7. Mesut Ozil – Arsenal

The German playmaker was so fond of the welcome given to him by the people of Brazil during the World Cup that he donated £350,000 to children’s charities after the tournament.

6. Cristiano Ronaldo – Real Madrid

In 2012, Ronaldo paid for the specialised treatment of a nine year old cancer sufferer, and also donated huge amounts to the hospital that helped save his mother’s life.

5. Rickie Lambert - Liverpool

Worked in a beetroot factory during his earlier years, having been released by Liverpool as an academy player. 15 years later, Lambert signed for his boyhood club, captaining the Reds on his full debut.

4. Jaba Kankava – FC Dnipro

Kankava saved an opponent’s life during a clash with Dynamo Kiev, rolling an unconscious player onto his back to prevent him from choking on his tongue.

3. Lionel Messi - Barcelona

Barcelona paid for hormone growth treatment when Messi was a child to alleviate his growth deficiency condition.

Now, he’s undoubtedly one of the greatest players to ever have played the game.

2. Victor Moses – Stoke City

Moses’ parents were murdered when he was a child, and he travelled to England as an asylum seeker.

Crystal Palace snapped him up, and he’s now an established Premier League footballer.

1. Charlie Austin – QPR

Funded his football by working as a bricklayer during his teen years. He climbed up 12 divisions in his 9-year football career, and is now heavily mooted for an England call-up.